Imprints in Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"You seem rather confident you can arrange for all this paperwork to go through," Zevran comments idly. Well dressed, confident, moves with far too much grace and... intent to just be a politician, merchant or noble. Perhaps also one of those, but... if he's not an adventurer or ex-adventurer, I'd be deeply surprised.

[Varric]

"I am," Varric replies with a nod. "I've done the ident papers before, well enough that I haven't been caught out on them since... going on three decades, when I was new to that sort of game. Pushing through the brothel licensing will be a bit new, but I'd done similar with other kinds of businesses. I plan on doing it legit, just... expedited, which should be entirely doable once you all have papers that are all, hmmm, palatable, shall we say? You can all approach me one-on-one to ask about that or to reaffirm private deals if you need to."

[Isabela]

Isabela nods. "I'll catch you after." My papers are the best money can buy already.

[Varric]

Glancing around, Varric nods. "Anyone have any concerns or whatnot to raise in a group setting?" At the lack of response, he nods. "Alright. I'll head over into the back room over there so people can pop in and chat as they like. Beth, Carver, head home- you've missed your lessons, so maybe do a bit of study. We'll have our talk later." Yeah, that sounds great...

[Isabela]

Isabela moves quickly, making it to the room first; she kicks the door closed gently with one foot, turning a chair around to sit on it backwards and giving a friendly nod. "I know you -- Gilder Goose, right?"

[Varric]

"You're the flirty waitress," Varric agrees with a nod, giving her long, studious look. "So what's on your mind?" He keeps the smile internal despite his amusement at the innuendo. 

[Isabela]

She snaps her fingers. "You're the unflirtable. I always wondered about that -- gay? Into something specific?" Only dates Dwarves?

[Varric]

"Uninterested," Varric says blandly.

[Isabela]

Definitely only dates dwarves. Wonder if he likes beards, or hates humans? "Fine, fine, just wondering. Have a couple back-room bets going." She shrugs. I hope he's not racist. Beth seems like a good kid. "They tell you what my deal is?"

[Varric]

"No offense taken. Doesn't bother me. Anyway, I got the short version," he lies smoothly. "Looking after your... friend Zevran."

[Isabela]

"Yes, well, the long version is, working at a hole-in-the-wall that's clearly beneath my skills in exchange for protection. Protection I hope you're prepared to uphold." She meets his eyes, an easy smile on her face but a hardness in her eyes. 

[Varric]

"Aside from the offer about papers? And making the place less hole, come to think of it. Yes, I plan on helping increase security. Carver's group is good and all but... understaffed and a little... unseasoned. Figured they could use an extra hand or two." Varric shrugs a bit. "What else were you looking for?"

[Isabela]

"A low profile. Well, not for me, that's fair, but nobody finds out Zevran's here until we get a long-term plan. You understand." She smiles. I don't know about this. He's raising our profile something fierce -- he better have good guards, I still don't know what kind of forces are coming for him.

[Varric]

"Understandable. I can get him some papers- the three of us can discuss his new name, where he's from and so forth at some point. Now is fine, if he wants to come inside instead of listening at the door," Varric offers with a smile of his own. The hells is she expecting to come for him?

[Tethras Clan]

There's a short pause, then the door opens. "Good ears, mon nouvel ami," the apparent merikos elf replies with a smile. After disguising last night, he'd decided it might be best to continue with more of a change than just the hair and adding a hint of color to his face, instead giving himself a bit more color to his grey skin. Very good ears. Or perhaps some other trick? Still, he seems... amendable to continuing things here. And perhaps I shall be more his type than ma'bela.